Apparatus for the treatment of hydrocarbons



P. GUICHARD 2,089,360

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HYDROCARBONS Aug. 10, 1937.,

' Filed Feb. 18, 1952 s sheets-sheet 1 Www ug. l0, w37.

y P. GUICHARD APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF' H YDROCARBONS Filed Feb. 18, 19:52

I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 h1/mar Elem@ a'eza 'K ug. I, i937. P. GUICHARD 2,089,366:

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HYDROCARBONS Filed Feb. 18, 1932 5 sheets-shea s Mfr@ Patented Aug. l0, 1937 cargar orties APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT 0F HYDROCARBONS Pierre Guichard, Marseille, France Application February 1S, 1932, Serial No. 593,903 In France February 20, 1931 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a process for the transformation of hydrocarbons having high boiling points into hydrocarbons having lower boiling points.

Processes of this class are already known, in which the object is to bring all of the molecules of oil into the same physical conditions at a given point of the treatment. vIn certain of these processes, the heavy oils are treated in very thin layers, and in other processes they are treated in tubes of very small diameter. However, the apparatus hitherto in use for one or the other of these processes have not apparently afforded the desired results, this being due to the fact that in such apparatus, which comprise two regions, that is, a preheating region and a reaction region: a the heating is sometimes excessive; l1` the reaction region cannot be accurately marked out; c

` the region in which the hydrocarbons are trans- 0 formed is subject to fouling and even to the formation of coke, and hence it becomes necessary to clean the worm-tubes, thus interrupting the treatment, and even stopping the plant altogether.

5 On the other hand, with such apparatus it is not feasible in practice to change the output of the installation, as it would thus be required to change the length or the cross-section of the tubes, and the speed of the fluid under treatment 0 is thus varied, or to change the temperatures, and the variation of all such lfactors in an operation of this kind cannot be made with any great certainty as to the result.

T'he present invention relates to a process in 5 which all such drawbacks are obviated, and which comprises the whole or apart of the following features:

1. The preheating and the transformation of the heavy hydrocarbons are effected in separate apparatus.

2. The preheating of the heavy hydrocarbons is gradually effected, and the difference of temperature between each heating wall and the. hydrocarbons is of small value at all points of the 5 heating circuit, thus obviating all instantaneous overheating of the molecules of the hydrocarbons in contact with such walls.

3. The preheating of the heavy hydrocarbons Aessentially comprises` one or more bubblings of the heavy hydrocarbons in their own mass, and each bubbling operation stirs the liquid in such manner that all the molecules are brought into like physical conditions with reference to their I," movements, temperatures and pressures.

0' 4. The preheating of the heavy hydrocarbons is effected at a temperature near the temperature of transformation of these heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons.

5. The chemical transformation of such heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons is effected f in a certain number of reaction tubes mounted in parallel, each having a small cross-section, and all of the said tubes operate in the same conditions with reference to one another.

By the. use of these means, the amount of oil in circulation is small, and the transformation of the heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons can be effected under optimum conditions. The preheating apparatus and the transformation apparatus may comprise features corresponding to their special functions, thus affording a slow and gradual heating of the heavy hydrocarbons, followed by a rapid transformation of the same into light products. On the other hand, it is possible to remedy at all times any disturbances arising in the transforming operation, and without stopping the latter.

The invention further relates to apparatus and plant in which the aforesaid process and means can be employed, and among these latter, the following may be particularly pointed out:

1. 'I'he heating installation comprises: a one or more heating worm-tubes supplied with the oil to be treated; b one or more bubbling and mixing or agitating tanks whereof each is provided with an oil intake tube descending to the bottom of the tank and with an oil outlet tube leaving the top of the tank.

2. Each unit chamber for the oil conversion has the following features: a it is accessible when in operation; b it is provided with devices by which it may be separated from the path of the stream iiow of hydrocarbons being converted; c it comprises devices which enable it to be removed while the other units are in operation, suitable apertures being formed in the heating chamber in such manner that the unit may be replaced by a like unit during the operation of the other units; d it consists of successive sections formed of tubes which are separately interchangeable and are provided with plugs aifording access to the interior of the said tubes.

3. Each unit chamber is provided with devices adapted to indicate the fouling of the chamber, and with cleaning devices by which the said chamber may be cleaned during the operation of the other units, and such devices may be manually or mechanically operated.

4. The cleaning devices for each treated unit chamber may consist of a source of fluid under pressure, and of a feeding arrangement which is mounted between said chamber and source and is adapted for manual or mechanical operating when the chamber is cut out from the stream ilow path of the hydrocarbon conversion.

5. A by-pass is mounted between the heating apparatus and the tank which supplies the hydrocarbon liquid to the plant, and the said bypass operates in combination with suitable valves, in order to separate the whole of the unit conversion tubes from the stream ow path.

The accompanying drawings, which in no wise limit the scope of the invention, are given by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section, on the line I-I of Fig. 2, of a plant constructed in conformity to the aforesaid principles.

Fig. 2 is a plan View partly in section on the line II-II of Fig. 1, oi the plant or system shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section on the line III- III of Fig. 1, of the same plant.

In these gures, the same reference indications relate to like parts.

In the following description of -the said plant and its operation, it is supposed that the usual heavy oils are treated, but in fact the plant can be employed for the treatment of the whole series of mineral oils, and for oils obtained at low temperatures from lignite and schist.

In Fig. 1, I is the tank containing the heavy oil under treatment; 2 is a pipe supplying the oil to a pump 3 which delivers it under pressure to the treating circuit, which comprises: a the arrangement for preparing the oil; 'b the arrangement for conversion of the oil.

The said arrangement for preparing the oil comprises the following:

1. A heater 4 having the form of a worm-tube which is mounted in a heating chamber 5, and the oil leaves this worm-tube at a temperature of about 300 C.

2. A tube 6 which is supplied with the oil and goes down to the bottom of a first mixing and heating tank 'I which is entirely lled with oil, said tube 6` having a small cross-section with reference to thehorizontal section of the first mixing tank l; the speed of intake of the oil into said tank is considerable, and this causes an energetic bubbling in the lower part of the tank. The dimensions of said tank in horizontal section and iny height, the cross-section of the tube 6, and the speed of the intake of the oil through'this tube, are so regulated that the stirring of the oil contained in the tank is completely effected in the lower part of-the tank, for instance in the lower third of the latter, and thus in the upper part, the several layers of oil are quite homogeneous from a physical point of view, that is, in each tank the Various molecules will all have the same temperature, the same rising speed and the same pressure. v

The oil issuing from the mixing and heating apparatus through the tube 8 is thus an oil in which all of the molecules are in the same physical conditions.

3. A second immersed tube B, starting from the top of the first mixing tank 'l and conducting the oil from the latter to the bottom of a second mixing and heating tank il which acts in the same manner as the first, and thus the molecules of the oil issuing from this second mixing and heating apparatus are always in the same physical conditions.

The said vmixing and heating apparatus I and 9 are mounted in the heating chamber 5. The oil discharged from the second mixing tank 9 is at a temperature of 380 C., and for this reason, no reaction which would decompose this oil can take place, while on the other hand a very small external supply of heat, and a very short time, will suilice to bring about a reaction by which the heavy hydrocarbons are transformed into light products.

II.-Apparatus for the conversion of the oil This is characterized by the following devices.

1. One or more header supply devices II, II which are supplied by the tube I0 with the oil prepared as above stated.

2. The reaction units properly so called, I2, each consisting of a relatively short circuit formed of tubes of small diameter and short length. All of the said units are alike, and are mounted in parallel upon each such header supply device; they may be emptied separately and almost instantly of the oil which they.v contain.

3. A common heating chamber or furnace I3 in which all of the units I2 are contained, in like conditions. As shown in Fig. l, the walls of this chamber or furnace I3 are apertured at I2 in register with the cross-sectional structure of the reaction units I2.

4. A device for regulating the temperature of said heating chamber, this being of a suitable type by which the oil in all of the said units may be heated to the temperature of the reaction, or 420 C. in the present case, and by which the temperature may be maintained within the range oi temperatures adapted for the normal transformation, and herein this range is from 400 to 440 C.

5. Controlling valves I 4 and I4' which lenable the units I2 to be cut in or out of the stream flow path, and to be separately removed and replaced while the others are in operation.

6. Each unit I2 is made up-,of several sections consisting of straight tubes connected together by elbows I5 provided with plugs IB for access to the same. The tubes of each um't are spaced only a short distance apart, and all of the units are situated in the heating chamber in such manner that each unit as Well as each of its component parts will be readily accessible and can be easily removed and replaced while in operation, without occasioning any stoppage or any trouble in the functioning of the other units, suitable apertures I2 being provided in the walls of the heating chamber i3 by which each element I2 can be removed and the elements can be wholly or partially replaced, and such apertures yare closed by covers when in normal operation.

7. A cooling device I'I, which is situated at the outlet end of each unit I2 and may consist of a worm-tube Il; a valve or cock Il' is mounted at one end of said worm-tube and it operates in connection with the valves or cocks I4 or I4' inv order to place each unit I2 in orout of the stream flow path.

8. A common pipe I8, for collecting the products of conversion discharged from thediierent cooling devices Il.

9. A pipe I9 for the discharge of the products collected in the common pipe I8, and a clackvalve 20 for regulating the pressure in the circuit, by which a pressure of 45 kgs. per sq. cm., for instance, may be obtained in the present case.

10. A first separator 2l vfor the products of the transforming reaction, this being provided with:v

aa pipe 22 ,for the return circulation oilany unconverted oil into the supply tank I for another treatment, and a branch pipe 23 with valve or cock 24 may be mounted on this pipe 22 to supply fuel for the heating of the said chamber i3 and of the entire plant; b a pipe 25 for the discharge of the lighter substances.

11. A second separator 26 adapted to receive these light substances and provided With a pipe 21 Vfor drawing off the light products vand with a pipe 28 for the discharge of the heavy products, which latter, according to their nature, may be circulated into a tank 23 or may be returned through a branch pipe 30 into the main supply tank l.

` By the use of a plant of this construction, it is possible to transform the whole series of mineral oils, up to the heaviest fuel-oils on the one hand, and on the other hand, the oils obtained at low temperatures from lignite or schist.

Eample Original product: heavy fuel oil, density 0.955 Operating pressure kgs. per sq. cm 45 Temperature at the inlet of the first mixer l' 30o C. Temperature at the outlet of the second mixer 9 380 C.

Temperature of the heating chamber I3 500O C.

` Temperature at the outlet of the'units l2 400 C,

Percentage of light hydrocarbons collected The density of the products collected at 2l and 28 as well as the percentage of these products relatively to the original substance under treatment will vary according to the conditions of heating.

During the normal operation, and with oils containing but little asphalt, no deposit of cokev is observed in the apparatus.

With oils containing a large amount of asphalt, or with low-temperature tars, some fouling may take place after a certain time, but this is confined to the reaction units l2.

To remedy this inconvenience, the units l2 can be cleaned during the normal operating, by hand or automatically, in conformity to the invention.

For this purpose, each unit I2 is combined with: a devices adapted to show the fouling, each of which comprises a pyrometer 8 l, and with indicating devices, either visible or acoustic, not shown, controlled by the pyrometer and comprising a registering galvanometer, electric bell, lamps, or the like; b an emptying or valve cock 32 and a vessel 33 for the emptied substances; c a pipe Sli for a supply of cleaning fluid under pressure, such as steam or the like, provided With a controlling device 35 or 35' such as a cock or valve etc. connected with a device 355 or 36' for the supply of a fluid under pressure, such as steam.

When one of the tubes becomes fouled, the temperature at the outlet as shown by the pyrometer 3l of this tube will at once be lowered, and thus the galvanometer and indicating devices Will show this fact.

In the oase of hand control, the operation is as follows:

The attendant closes the cock or valve I4 supplying the hydrocarbon to the tube affected, then opens the emptying cock or valve 32, and the oil flows into the said vessel 33. He then opens the cock or valve 35, and the jet of steam thus sent into the fouled unit I?. will perfectly4 of the circuit by means of a by-pass'3'l providedA with a cock or valve 38, and thereby the oil discharged from the second mixer 9 is sent directly into the main tank l.

A pyrometer 39 may obviously be mounted at the oiftake of the last mixer, and in fact, each mixer might be thus provided.

A flue it serves to circulate the burnt gas of the heating chamber or furnace I3 into the heating chamber 5, from which it issues at 6I.

The rate of circulation of the oil in the transformation units l2 is regulated by the output of the pump 3, and is such that the time during which the oil remains in said units will be very short, for instance two minutes.

Having now particularly described and ascer-V tained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. In a system for the conversion of hydrocarbons of high boiling point into hydrocarbons having lower boiling points in which preheating of the hydrocarbons and conversion of the hydrocarbons are effected in the liquid phase under pressure, a supply tank containing liquid hydrocarbons, a common preheating chamber comprising common means for circulating hydrocarbons therein and delivering hydrocarbons therefrom in a single stream, means for feeding hydrocarbons under pressure from said supply tank to said preheating chamber, a common manifold arranged outside said preheating chamber and connected to the outlet of said circulating means in said preheating chamber, a conversion furnace comprising a plurality of conversion tube units extending therethrough, each of said units constituting a complete separate individual hydrocarbon path through said conversion furnace, collecting means outside said furnace for collecting the products delivered from said conversion units, said conversion units being respectively detachably mounted and operatively connected in parallel between said common manifold and said collecting means, individual valve means connected at each end of each of said units between each of said units and said manifold and said collecting means for controllably selectively isolating each of said units respectively from said manifold and said collecting means, pressure regulating means connected to said units and adjusted for maintaining the hydrocarbons substantially in the liquid phase in said tubes of said units, means for heating said preheating chamber to a temperature slightly below conversion temperature, separate common heating means for jointly heating said conversion units in said conversion furnace to a temperature suiicient to effect conversion, means for cooling the products delivered from said conversion units, means for separating the cooled products of conversion from the unconverted products, a source of a cleaning fluid under pressure, individual cleaning inlet valves for each of said units connected between said source of cleaning fluid and each of said units respectively, individual clean-out receptacles connected to the delivery end of each of said units respectively between the end of its tube and its valve means connected to said collecting means, individual cleaning outlet valves for each of said units connected between each of said clean-out receptacles and the delivery end of the corresponding unit, said cleaning inlet valves being adapted to admit cleaning fluid from said source of cleaning fluid for passage through said conversion tube units when said units have been cut out of the hydrocarbon stream flow path.

2. In a system for the conversion of hydrocarbons of high boiling point into hydrocarbons having lower boiling points in which preheating of thehydrocarbons and conversion of the hydrocarbons are effected in the liquid phase under pressure, a supply tank containing liquid hydrocarbons, a common preheating chamber comprising common means for circulating hydrocarbons therein and delivering hydrocarbons therefrom in a single stream, means for feeding hydrocarbons under pressure from said supply tank to said preheating chamber, a common manifold arranged outside said preheating chamber and connected to the outlet of said circulating means in said preheating chamber, a conversion chamber comprising a plurality of conversion tube units extending therethrough, each of said units constituting a complete separate individual hydrocarbon path through said conversion chamber, collecting means outside said chamber for collecting the products delivered from said conversion units, said conversion units being respectively detachably mounted and operatively connected in parallel between said common manifold and said collecting means, individual valve means connected at each end of each of said units be- 40 tween each of said units and said manifold and said collecting' means for controllably selectively isolating each of said units respectively from said manifold and said collecting means, pressure regulating means connected to said units and adjusted for maintaining the hydrocarbons substantially in the liquid phase in said tubes of said units, means for heating said preheating chamber to a temperature slightly below conversion temperature, separate common heating means for jointly heating said conversion units in said conversion chamber to a temperature sucient to effect conversion, means for cooling the products delivered from said conversion units, means for separating the cooled products of conversion from the unconverted products, a source of a cleaning uid under pressure, individual cleaning inlet valves for each oi said units connectedr between said source of cleaning fluid and each of said units respectively, individual clean-out receptacles connected to the delivery end of each of said units respectively between the end of its tube and its valve means connected to said collecting means, individual cleaning outlet valves for each of said units connected between each of said clean-out receptacles and the delivery end of the corresponding unit, said cleaning inlet valves being adapted to admit cleaning fluid from said source of cleaning uid for passage through said conversion tube units when said units have been cut out of the hydrocarbon stream flow path, means for bodily removing each conversion tube unit at each of its ends from its connection with the hydrocarbon stream flow path during operation after said tube has been disconnected from the stream ow path, means for connecting in lieu thereof another conversion tube unit and putting the same into the hydrocarbon stream path without the interruption of the continuous conversion of the hydrocarbons in the other conversion tube units.

PIERRE GUICHARD. 

